Abstract: A method for converting a biomass to a bio-oil includes providing a four-stroke internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, at least one piston, and a crankshaft coupled to each of the at least one piston. The method also includes coupling a power source to the crankshaft in a manner such that the power source drives rotation of the crankshaft. The method also includes injecting a first mixture including a biomass and a non-oxidizing compression gas into one of the cylinders. The method also includes compressing and heating the first mixture during a compression stroke of the pistons. The compression and heating of the first mixture pyrolizes the biomass to produce a second mixture including a bio-oil and the compression gas. The method also includes decompressing and cooling the second mixture during an expansion stroke of the pistons. The decompression and cooling of the second mixture quenches secondary pyrolysis.

Abstract: The present application relates to K-Ras mutations, to polynucleotides encoding mutant K-Ras polypeptides, and to methods of identifying small molecule antagonists using K-Ras mutations. The present application also relates to K-Ras small molecule antagonists and use thereof in the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods for the development and integration of multiple apparatuses and methods for achieving administration of stem cell therapies include precision manufacturing of tissue scaffolds and/or bioreactor substrates. The nano/microscale fiber material extrusion typifying the electrospinning process is married with the fiber alignment and layering characteristic of an additive manufacturing process. The method generates porous fibrous 3-D meshes with precision controlled structures from biopolymer melts and solutions and gels, blends, and suspensions with and without cells. A method of tracking the migration histories and shapes of stem cells on scaffold surfaces relies on immunofluorescent imaging and automated algorithms based on machine learning.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for remote sensing, surface profiling, object identification, and aiming based on two-photon population inversion and subsequent photon backscattering enhanced by superradiance using two co-propagating pump waves. The present disclosure enables efficient and highly-directional photon backscattering by generating the pump waves in properly pulsed time-frequency modes, proper spatial modes, with proper group-velocity difference in air. The pump waves are relatively delayed in a tunable pulse delay device and launched to free space along a desirable direction using a laser-pointing device. When the pump waves overlap in air, signal photons will be created through two-photon driven superrdiant backscattering if target gas molecules are present. The backscattered signal photons propagate back, picked using optical filters, and detected.

Abstract: The described invention provides an ex vivo dynamic multiple myeloma (MM) cancer niche contained in a microfluidic device. The dynamic MM cancer niche includes (a) a three-dimensional tissue construct containing a dynamic ex vivo bone marrow (BM) niche, which contains a mineralized bone-like tissue containing viable osteoblasts self-organized into cohesive multiple cell layers and an extracellular matrix secreted by the viable adherent osteoblasts; and a microenvironment dynamically perfused by nutrients and dissolved gas molecules; and (b) human myeloma cells seeded from a biospecimen composition comprising mononuclear cells and the multiple myeloma cells. The human myeloma cells are in contact with osteoblasts of the BM niche, and the viability of the human myeloma cells is maintained by the MM cancer niche.

Abstract: An intelligent adaptive integrated learning environment to optimize the learning process to a particular user. The environment is capable of providing assessment and targeted feedback.

Abstract: A method of tracking a service queue using a single-point signal monitor in which at least one customer carries a wireless device may include: receiving a received signal strength from the wireless device as a trace; identify first segments of the trace containing mostly positive sloped received signal strength; identify second segments of the trace containing mostly negative sloped received signal; extract attributes from the first and second segments as child variables for two parent nodes in a Bayesian Network in which the two parent nodes respectively model a beginning of service and a leaving period for a service queue; and inputting the extracted attributes into Bayesian Network; and determining a beginning of service and leaving period using the Bayesian Network. The method may also include determining critical time points in a trace using a K-L divergence technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, apparatus and method through which novice or new investors can begin to invest by using the knowledge shared by seasoned investors, who are incentivized to do so by commissions based on their success. The system follows users through each point in a social investment process, and directs users in novel ways to execute a purchase faster. A user discovers other user portfolios through recommendations made using multi-stage collaborative portfolio filtering. From there, processes are defined for following and “mimicking” a portfolio to display the contents thereof, create personal copies of the portfolio or its strategies, and subscribe to periodic or timely updates on the portfolio. Through this system and processes, investment portfolios are curated, and metrics are created to rank user success and further refine recommendations.

Abstract: Rhodamine dye is delivered to regions of a lung having heterogeneous alveolar flooding by alveolar liquid, thereby lowering the surface tension of the alveolar liquid so as to lessen ventilation injury directly and, by promoting equitable redistribution of the alveolar liquid among the alveoli of the lung, indirectly. The rhodamine dye is delivered with an albumin and/or an exogenous surfactant. Exemplary rhodamine dyes include sulforhodamine B and rhodamine WT.

Abstract: A wireless sensor includes a sensing element, a signal conditioning element, and a passive RFID tag. The sensing element is adapted to provide an electrical response indicating whether a physical parameter applied to the wireless sensor has exceeded a predetermined threshold. The signal conditioning element is electrically coupled to the sensing element and is adapted to detect the electrical response of the sensing element. The passive RFID tag is electrically coupled to the signal conditioning element. The passive RFID tag is adapted to be powered by an interrogation by an RFID reader, to receive an indication of the electrical response from the signal conditioning element, and to transmit the indication to the RFID reader.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus having a mobile device with a plurality of radio access technologies, a server computer in the cloud running a cognitive offloader and cloud scheduler improves the execution time and reduces energy use of an application program residing on or accessible to the mobile device and having a plurality of components by apportioning executable tasks and routing data between the mobile device and the server computer based upon a cognitive offloader algorithm aware of dynamic parameters such as CPU and memory use, energy costs for transmissions and measurements of connectivity. The scheduling of tasks apportioned between the computing devices in the system may be enlightened by a component dependency graph of the application that is used by the offloader algorithm.

Abstract: An acoustic sensing system and method includes at least one cluster of acoustic sensors in communication with a computing device. The computing device is configured to process received acoustic signals, and provide at least one of detection of the acoustic source presence; determination of direction of arrival of an acoustic wave emitted by an acoustic source; and classification of the acoustic source as to its nature. The cluster may include at least two sensors and the computing device may be configured to process the received acoustic signals and provide localization of the acoustic source in three dimensions. The cluster of acoustic sensors may comprise at least one seismic wave sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing and controlling data has a computer coupled to a display screen and to a source of a plurality of data items. The computer is programmed with a program having a graphical user interface that displays symbols on the display screen that represent the data items. The symbols may be displayed and colored in groups based upon the similarity of content of the data that the symbols represent. The content may also generate labels for the symbols. Lines extending between symbols graphically indicate the relatedness of the data that the symbols represent and the size of symbols may indicate the calculated relevance to user interests.

Abstract: A method of high-throughput printing and selective transfer of graphene onto a substrate includes the steps of: providing a thermal release tape having graphene adhered thereto; placing a substrate onto the graphene; pressing the thermal tape and the graphene against the substrate at a uniformly-distributed pressure; heating localized portions of the thermal tape and graphene using a localized heat source, thereby diminishing the adhesive properties of the thermal release tape in the localized portions and transferring graphene from said localized portions to the substrate; and separating the thermal release tape from the substrate. The method may include the further step of moving the localized heat source to selected positions on the thermal release tape during the heating step, thereby forming a pattern of heated portions. The method may use a laser beam as the localized heat source, movement of the laser beam being performed by a computer-controlled deflectable mirror.

Abstract: A method for growing a transition metal dichalcogenide on a substrate, the method including providing a growth substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; providing a source substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; depositing a transition metal oxide on at least a portion of the first side of the source substrate; combining the growth substrate with the source substrate such that the first side of the growth substrate contacts the transition metal oxide, the combining producing a substrate stack; exposing the substrate stack to a chalcogenide gas, whereby the transition metal oxide reacts with the chalcogenide gas to produce a layer of a transition metal dichalcogenide on at least a portion of the first side of the growth substrate; and removing the source substrate from the growth substrate having the layer of the transition metal dichalcogenide thereon.

Abstract: In permeability lung edema, cardiogenic lung edema or neonatal respiratory distress, there is heterogeneous liquid distribution throughout the lungs. The excess alveolar liquid reduces gas exchange. Mechanical ventilation is used to improve gas exchange. In the presence of heterogeneous liquid distribution, there are surface tension-dependent stress concentrations in septa separating aerated from flooded alveoli. Mechanical ventilation, by inflating the lung above normal volumes, thus increasing surface tension above normal, exacerbates the stress concentrations and consequently injures, or exacerbates pre-existing injury of, the alveolar-capillary barrier. Any means of lowering surface tension should lessen ventilation injury of the lung. In the present invention, dilute exogenous surfactant solution or surfactant protein C solution interacts with albumin to lower surface tension, likely through effective promotion of surfactant lipid adsorption.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a sensor includes coating an end-polished sapphire fiber with aluminum to produce a sapphire fiber having an aluminum coating, anodizing the aluminum coating to produce an aluminum oxide coating, and removing the aluminum oxide coating from a distal end of the sapphire fiber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a patterned fibrous matrix includes providing a printer adapted to use an etching solvent as an ink; providing to the printer a fibrous matrix to use as a printing medium; providing to the printer a pattern for printing on the fibrous matrix; printing by the printer the pattern on the fibrous matrix; and receiving from the printer the patterned fibrous matrix with the pattern etched thereon.

Abstract: An in-membrane micro fuel cell comprises an electrically-insulating membrane that is permissive to the flow of cations, such as protons, and a pair of electrodes deposited on channels formed in the membrane. The channels are arranged as conduits for fluids, and define a membrane ridge between the channels. The electrodes are porous and include catalysts for promoting the liberation of a proton and an electron from a chemical species and/or or the recombination of a proton and an electron with a chemical specie. The fuel cell may be provided a biosensor, an electrochemical sensor, a microfluidic device, or other microscale devices fabricated in the fuel cell membrane.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating spectrum available within a region including a plurality of base stations. The method includes obtaining a plurality of spectrum demands associated with at least a portion of the base stations, each spectrum demand requesting a portion of the available spectrum, and determining a plurality of spectrum allocations satisfying at least a portion of the spectrum demands. The spectrum allocations are determined by processing the spectrum demands using network information such as base station information associated with the base stations and region information such as terrain information associated with the region. The region information may include signal propagation information.